Swimming at Buell County Park in the Willamette Valley

Looking for more Willamette Valley swimming holes?
Check out Mill Creek Park, located a few miles down the road.

SWIM

Like many creeks, Mill Creek is ideal for wading, floating, and having fun in the water, but not necessarily deep enough for swimming (at least not for adults). The creekbed is a mix of rocks, limestone, and silt. I recommend water shoes, especially in the shallowest parts, as algae can make the rocks quite slippery. The water is cold and clear, but can get muddy when swimmers stir up the silt. In the slow moving areas, the summer sun often warms the water, making these spots especially nice for young children.

As with any water source, safety is always a primary concern. During our visit, the water level was low and the creek was calm and quiet. This is typical for Mill Creek in summer, but conditions can change. Always be mindful of currents and keep a close watch on children.

PADDLE

Because Mill Creek is quite shallow, with rocky shoals frequently breaking up the flow, it’s not great for paddling. Instead, bring your inflatables, and enjoy a lazy river float.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Buell County Park is free to visit and has ample parking, restrooms, garbage bins, picnic tables, and fire rings. When we visited, the restrooms were closed (perhaps due to Covid19), but port-a-potties were available.
• The main draw is the creek, but there is also a small playground and a large grassy area for outdoor games.
• To get to the creek, follow the trails at the far end of the parking area. They lead down to several spots with easy water access and picnic tables on the shore. If you try to access the creek near the restrooms, you’ll discover a steep dirt bank that makes it more difficult to reach the water.
• We visited on a late Friday afternoon, and I was a little surprised to find the park nearly deserted. While it sometimes hosts large gatherings, Buell County Park mostly flies under the radar. It’s an unassuming place, but if you’re in the area and looking for a simple place to relax and play with the kids, or need a rest stop en route to the beach from Salem, this is a great option.

HIGHLIGHTS

This low-key little park is perfect when you just want to spend a summer afternoon by the creek. It’s nothing fancy, but great for a picnic and some play time by the water.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

My oldest son, J, was thrilled to find that no one else was around when we arrived. As an introvert, he finds many summer swimming holes a little too crowded for his liking. The kids quickly found their way down to the creek and began to explore. Buell Creek Park can keep kids entertained for hours — I had to practically drag mine to the car when it was time to go!

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Buell County Park isn’t the only park along this stretch of Mill Creek. A few miles further south on Mill Creek Road, you’ll find Mill Creek Park. This park sits on a particularly beautiful stretch of the creek punctuated with mossy boulders. The water here tends to be a little deeper than at Buell County Park. These parks are both right off Highway 22, which travels between Salem and the Oregon Coast. There are a few wineries and other spots of interest along the route. One place on my list to try is Salt Creek Cider House, located just 10 minutes east of Buell County Park. If I try it, I’ll let you know!

I grew up in the rural Willamette Valley. As an adult, visiting at this time of year always brings back childhood memories of summer days spent outside. My boys now have the privilege of spending part of each summer with their Oregon grandparents, experiencing many of the same places I knew and loved as a child. When I’m with them, I love to take them out to explore more of this beautiful area.

This time, I decided to head to Buell County Park. What could be better than playing in the creek on a warm summer day? Sure enough, the boys loved it. Before I had even finished gathering our supplies, they had clambered down the dirt bank behind the restrooms to reach the creek. I could hear the shouts of delight, and hurried to meet them. After convincing them to move a short distance downstream where it’s much easier to access the water, I plopped our beach bag on a picnic table and went in to test the waters for myself.

The cool water felt good on my feet, but wow, was it slippery! Luckily the boys had brand new water shoes, making it much easier to traverse the shallow rocky shoals of Mill Creek. They drifted gradually downstream, alternating between floating and exploring on foot. Sticks became makeshift paddles. Small fish darted out of the way, while tiny periwinkles clung stubbornly to the rocks, protected by their conical shells.

Eventually the boys settled on a spot to hang out. As the only visitors, our options were wide open. J abandoned his panda floatie, giving me the perfect opportunity to nab it for myself. I floated blissfully up and down our little section of the creek while the boys splashed and clambered over the rocks. Too soon, it was time to head back to the grandparents’ house for dinner.

As we headed back to the parking lot, we took the opportunity to toss some garbage we’d found along the creek into the bins. Why trash is left behind when there are multiple garbage cans right here in the park, I’ll never understand! Overall, I’m pleased to say that Buell County Park is quite clean, but if you visit, please do your part to keep it that way.

Before leaving, we made a final stop at the playground, giving the kids a last chance to run their energy out (not that they didn’t have plenty more by the time we reached grandma and grandpa’s). It’s a simple playground by today’s standards, with swings, a few climbing bars, and a fort with a slide and pole. But really, what more do you need? The kids loved it! For easy-going summer fun, Buell County Park is where it’s at.